Using raptors as particularly appropriate sentinels for persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) compounds, ERBFacility will help answer: (1) is legislation effective in reducing environmental exposure to contaminants in Europe; (2) what are the environmental risks of specific chemicals; (3) are there emerging contaminant problems needing remedial action?

ERBFacility is timely and relevant given the shift in chemicals regulation from national to EU level and the 7EAP call for better scientific knowledge for a non-toxic environment. ERBFacility fills a key gap in wildlife biomonitoring and complements recent European developments in human biomonitoring.

ERBFacility will underpin next generation biomonitoring in Europe by delivering: complementary frameworks for a European Raptor Biomonitoring Scheme, a distributed European Raptor Specimen Bank and a European Raptor Sampling Programme; a meta database of samples; harmonised standards and protocols for analyses and sampling; best practice guidance for sampling; proof of concept for pan-European assessments and harmonised sampling.